The Wet And Wild West Belongs to Canterbury

The Canterbury Bulldogs have had a very successful roadtrip to Perth, coming away with a 46-12 thrashing over the Melbourne Storm in front of just over 12,000 people at NIB Stadium.

The day didn't start too well for the Melbourne Storm with their captain Cameron Smith being ruled out after injuring his back during the warm up. Despite the injury, the match started off really well for the Storm with early tries coming their way through Billy Slater and Will Chambers to let the Storm open a 10-0 lead.

The opening quarter of the match was a far cry from the rest of the match with the Storm having total dominance of the match. It wasn't until the Bulldogs were able to get a string of consistent penalties that they began to apply some attacking pressure and it took some good skill from Trent Hodkinson to score the Bulldogs first of the night.

That try signalled the start of a fightback for the Dogs and after some poor play deep in their own half, Josh Morris took advantage of the pressure and scored to level the match & after Hodkinson's conversion the Dogs had the lead.

So despite leading 12-10 at the break, it took Melbourne just three minutes to level it up after Tohu Harris converted a penalty.

From that point on it was all the Bulldogs and tries were coming at regular intervals through David Klemmer and Josh Jackson.

Just shy of the hour mark, Josh Jackson thought he had his second try of the match but the Video Referees after a lot of replays denied the try going with a No Try onfield decision from referee Ashley Klein. Despite that decision the Dogs still came away with possession and it was the next set when James Graham scored for the Dogs to open it out to an 18 point lead.

That wasn't the end of the match for the Bulldogs with some magic touches from Josh Reynolds setting up tries for Tim Lafai & Chase Stanley to score and extend the margin for the Bulldogs.

Next weekend both sides have tough clashes with, the Bulldogs taking on the defending premiers the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium meanwhile the Melbourne Storm are back at the graveyard AAMI Park to take on the Gold Coast Titans next Sunday afternoon.

37: PENALTY BULLDOGS - Storm penalised for a "crusher tackle" - Bulldogs now just 15m out from the Storm line

39: PENALTY BULLDOGS - The Storm penalised for being inside the 10m - Penalty count now 6-1 in favour of the Bulldogs

40: PENALTY STORM - Bulldogs cross but Ashley Klein calls it back for an obstruction

40: HALF TIME at NIB Stadium in a wet and windy Perth, Bulldogs take a 12-10 lead into the break

40: Just remember everyone that this isn't the only game on the card today at NIB Stadium - earlier this afternoon the Perth based West Coast Pirates took on the St George Dragons in a SG Ball cup match

40: Play back underway at the wet and windy NIB Stadium

42: James Graham has NOT returned to the field for the second half for the Bulldogs

59: Were looking at some more replays again.... replays getting a work out

59: Up to replay 58 and still no decision, now its into slow motion, remember NO TRY was onfield call of Ashley Klein

59: NO TRY is the ruling - Video referees admit that its likely there was no touch from Josh Jackson but as explained by VR, replays couldn't allow them to make a conclusive decision, Dogs have scrum anyway

61: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS Scored by James Graham. Kick to come.James Graham is back on the field and scores the try for the Bulldogs and that makes it tough for the Storm now

62: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.Trent Hodkinson has no problems again from close range to extend the Dogs lead

64: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS Scored by Chase Stanley. Kick to come.Josh Reynolds showing some fantastic skill and puts a beautiful kick that goes straight into the arms of Chase Stanley who scores

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.Trent Hodkinson hits it sweetly from the sideline and converts the goal, to push the margin out to 24

68: Everything running in favour of the Dogs, good bounce back towards their chasers from nowhere but goes astray with a knock on

71: Another good kick from the Bulldogs sees them get a repeat set

72: Storm go short on the dropout but knock on trying to clean it up & Dogs on attack inside the Storm 10m zone

74: An awkward and dangerous looking tackle is let go by the referees - replay suggests a penalty should've be coming for the storm

76: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS Scored by Timoteo Lafai. Kick to come.A big run from Tim Lafai sees him burst through some weak defence and the Bulldogs score again

78: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.Trent Hodkinson puts his worst kick of the night in and it misses

79: PENALTY STORM - Two late penalties to the Storm give them a chance to post a consolation try